Band-cutter and feeder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. P. BURKE. BAND GUTTER AND FEEDER.

No. 487,987. Patented Dec. 13, 1892, V

zys,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

W. P. BURKE.

I BAND GUTTBRIAND FEEDER.

No. 487,987. Patented Dec. 13, 1892..

F'lG 2 WILLIAM PATRICK BURKE, OF EDINA, MISSOURI.

BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,987, dated December 13, 1892.

Application filed June 14, 1892. Serial No. 436,700. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM PATRICK BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residingatEdina, in the county of Knoxand State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Band-Gutter and Feeder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to band-cutters and feeders for thrashing-machines; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in machines of this character which greatly facilitate the handling of the grain by the feeder, while at the same time providing for the cutting of the bands and evenly distributing the grain to the cylinder end of a thrasher. To this end the invention contemplates general improvements over similar machines.

With these and many other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a band-cutter and feeder attached to the cylinder end of a thrashingmachine as contemplated by this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the attachment. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the cutting-knives and its connection with the knife-belt.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the cylinder end of athrashingmachine of ordinary construction, and to one or both sides of which is secured the fixed table B, having upon one edge thereof the slotted openings or notches O. Removably secured to the top of said table B is the feederframe D, comprising the separate hinged members d, through which passes the endless slatted feeder-apron E, which is designed to convey or carry the grain to the cylinder end of the thrasher, where it is fed to the cylinder by the feeder stationed to receive the grain from the machine-feeder. As stated, the feeder-frame D is removably secured to the table B, and one of the hinged members thereof is provided upon one of the sides thereof with the depending securing-bolts F, adapted to pass through the table and be engaged upon one side thereof by the screwnuts f, providing a removable attachment to said table, while the opposite side of the same member is provided with the depending headed bolts F, which are adapted to he slipped into the notches or slotted openings in one edge of the table, so that in removing the feeder-frame from the table or placing the same in position thereon it is only necessary to manipulate the nuts f, as will be readily apparent. It will, of course, be seen that the outer movable member of the feeder may be raised up and held out of the way while the thrasher is being moved. The end less apron E, passing through the feederframe, passes over the end apron-rollers E, located at the end of each member, respectively, and one of which rollers is provided upon one end thereof With the pinion 6, engaging the gear-wheel G, carried upon one end of the cylinder-shaft of the thrashingmachine, and thus provides means for moving the apron in the direction of the cylinder end of the thrasher. Removably secured to the fixed frame member and upon one side of the same is the knife-frame H. The said knife-frame H is removably secured to one of the sides of said fixed frame member by the bolts H, so as to provide means for removing the frame when loose grain is being carried by the feeder t0 the thrasher, and said frame comprises the opposite parallel members or arms I, which extend from one side of the feeder-frame above and parallel with the apron passing therethrough to a point near the oppposite side of the frame in order to hold the cutting devices carried thereby transversely over the center of the apron. The outer ends of the knife-frame arms I are provided with the slots J, which receive the adjustable bearing-block's K, adjusted in said slots by means of the set-screw L, working through the outer ends of the arms and engaging said bearing-blocks, which blocks carry the adjustable belt-roller M. The said adjustable belt-roller M receives one end of the endless knife-belt N, the other end of which passes over the fixed belt-roller O,

journaled within the knife-frame near the opposite end of the knife-frame. The said belt-roller O carries upon one end thereofthe pulley 0, receiving the drive-belt 0', which is connected with the pulley 0 also mounted on the cylinder-shaft of the thrasher, so as to communicate motion to the knife-belt in order that the same will move simultaneously with the feeder-apron and transversely across the same, near one end thereof. Fixedly secured to the knife-belt N are the knife-nuts P, which are arranged out of line with each other from one edge of the belt to the other at regular intervals and are adapted to re-' ceive the threaded. shank of the band-cutting knives Q, which are thus removably secured to the belt. The knives Q, are slightly curved and have their points project toward the thrasher in aline with the travel of the apron E, so that as the apron E carries the bundle toward the thrasher the bundle is drawn across or at least under the knives which cut the bands thereof and, owing to their disposition, allow all the straw to pass away with out backing up or clogging thereon.

In order that the knife-belt maybe insured an even and regular movement, I employ a belt-tightener R, adjustably secured to one side and the inner end of the knife-frame and carrying the tightener-pulleys 0", which are adapted to receive both portions of the drivebelt 0', so that the tension of the frame may be regulated to suit the requirements of the machine, while the knife-belt itself is tightened or loosened, as desired, by means of the adjustable bearing blocks previously re ferred to.

Secured to the under side of the knife-frame H are the guard-rods S, having upturned or curved ends 8, projecting beyond one side of the knife-frame toward the outer end of the feeder, so as to compel the sheaves to pass under the knife-frame in contact with the knives, while the horizontal under portions of said guard-rods extending across and under the knife-frame at each end of the knife-belt serve to hold the straw in position out of interference with the knife-belt while passing thereunder. Depending from the same side of the knife-frame beyond which the guardrods project are the depending spring-metal guide-fingers T, which extend below the said knife-frame, so as to prevent the sheaves from coming under the knife-frame crosswise, and also provide means for holding the bundles or sheaves until the same are straightened to pass properly under the knives in the event of the end of one bundle being ahead of the other end of the same bundle, so that the bundle is therefore compelled to pass under the knife-frame parallel therewith, the said guidefingers being of spring metal and thus allowing the bundles to be forced past the same.

A spring-supported apron-elevating roller U is arranged under the portion of the apron E over the table B and directly under the knife-belt working thereover. The said roller U is journaled in the spring bearing-arms V, secured to the inner opposite sides of the fixed frame member, and are adapted to hold the said roller up in contact with the top portion of the endless feed-apron, so as to hold the same in such a position that any-sized bundle or sheaf, from the largest to the smallest, will be held in close proximity to the knifebelt, so that the bands of all bundles or sheaves will be effectually cut.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In a feeder for thrashing-machines, the combination, with a thrasher, of a fixed table secured to one side and end of the thrasher and provided with slots or notches at one edge of the same, a feeder-frame comprising separate hinged members, one of which is provided with securing-bolts depending from one side of the same, adapted to pass through the table, and the other with depending headed bolts adapted to be slipped into and out of said slots in the other side, screw-nuts engaging said securing-bolts, and an endless apron passing through said frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination, with the thrasher, of a fixed table secured to one side and end of the thrasher, a sectional feeder-frame comprising separate hinged members, one of which is removably bolted to said fixed table, the endless apron passing through said sectional feeder-frame, a knife-frame removably secured to one side of the bolted frame member and extending transversely over and parallel with the apron therein, an endless knife-carrying belt mounted within the knife-frame and having a series of knives out of line with each other and adapted to travel above the portion of the apron in the bolted frame member, and means for normally elevating the portion of the apron directly under said knives, substantially as set forth.

3. In a band-cutter and feeder, the sectional feeder frame, the endless apron passing through said frame, a knife-frame removably secured to one side of said feeder-frame and comprising opposite parallel arms extending transversely over said apron and provided with slots near their outer ends, adjustable bearing-blocks mounted in said slots, an adjustable belt-roller mounted in said blocks, a fixed belt-roller mounted in said arms near the other end thereof, and an endless knifecarrying belt mounted over said belt-rollers and having a series of spaced knives out of line with each other, substantially as set forth.

4. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination, with the frame and the endless apron passing therethrough, of the knife-frame secured to one side of said feeder-frame and extending transversely above and parallel with the apron, an endless knife-carrying belt moving in said knife-frame, opposite parallel guard-rods having horizontal porversely above said apron,an apron-elevating roller mounted within said frame, and spring bearing-arms carrying the journal ends of said rollers and adapted to hold the same in contact with the top portion of the apron to press the latter in close proximity to said knife-belt, substantially as set forth.

6. In a band-cutter and feeder, the combination,with the frame and the endless apron passing therethrough, of an endless knifebelt arranged to move transversely above said apron, a series of knife-nuts fixedly secured to said apron at regular intervals and out of line with each other, and knives having threaded shanks removably engaging said nuts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM PATRICK BURKE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS DWYER, E1). T. BURKE. 

